A youth-powered economic movement
Firsts Change Futures.
YEI connects young people to hands-on learning, real businesses, and paid opportunities that open doors to income, confidence, and upward mobility.
Putting poverty out of business, one first at a time.
Opportunity should not depend on your ZIP code.
Poverty closes doors. YEI opens them.
81x
Wealth Gap
Deep wealth disparities limit access to savings, ownership, and early income-building opportunities.
STEAM
Opportunity Gap
Limited early exposure to STEAM pathways and underrepresentation in high-growth, high-paying careers.
Firsts that change futures
- First business experience
- First product
- First customer
- First savings goal
- First investment
- First passport
- First flight
Since 2015
Launched Annually
Hosted Annually
Scholarships & Seed Funds
Exposure becomes mobility.
Explore the YEI ecosystem.
Programs
Hands-on entrepreneurship, STEAM, financial literacy, and creative learning that open doors.
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Made By Youth
YEI’s social enterprise platform. Sales help support youth stipends, paid work-based learning, and program sustainability.
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Student Brands
Support youth-owned ventures and discover the businesses young entrepreneurs are launching.
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Markets & Events
Pop-ups, showcases, KidBizCON, and real opportunities to sell, connect, and grow.
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